John Hopkins Arthritis Website | Arthritis Information

I would think this is a reputable site-no?

I copied and pasted some "Ask the Expert" questions on the above website about MTX and alcohol.

I would love to believe this- but I feel like maybe if you look long and hard enough you'll find the answer that YOU want to "hear".

I could definately live with this Dr.'s recommendation and feel like myself again. I am just not a teetotaler.

Any thoughts?

Alcohol with Methotrexate, Celebrex and Paquenil


	My doctor has me on methotrexate 2.5 pills six a week, along with my celebrex, and plaquenil. My question is can it hurt to have a glass of red wine a couple times a week?

	In the US, we generally recommend no more than 2 glasses of alcoholic beverages per week. Two is okay as long as the treating rheumatologist or internist is monitoring the liver tests, and as long as the patient does not have any underlying liver disease such as hepatitis C, hemochromatosis

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Author:

Alan Matsumoto, M.D.

Methatrexate and Alcohol

	I'm a 33 year old male with psoratic athritis i take 15mg of methatrexate weekly.It really has helped my joints the only thing is that i like the odd beer.Some doctors have told me its ok others say that i should not take any alcohol at all.What would you advise?Thanks for your time.

	If you do not have any history of prior heavy alcohol use or liver problems, then I advise my patients that they may have 1 or 2 alcoholic beverages per week -- provided it truly is 1 or 2 beverages and not really more. You are taught in medical school that patients frequently lie about this question.

Last update: 07:30 PM Thursday, April 5, 2007

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Alan Matsumoto, M.D.

methotrexate and alcohol

	I have recently started methatrexate 7.5mg a week (4 weeks ago). I usually have a glass of wine or two with dinner and my husband and I go out on a saturday night where we normally drink 4 or 5 beers. My doctor says no drinking at all but other ra sufferers say they drink so who is right? Can I have a few drinks socially? Thank you.

	The key here is moderation. Different doctors have different views, but I tell patients not to drink alcohol on a daily basis and to limit themselves to 2 to 3 drinks PER WEEK, or an occasional glass of wine or beer with dinner. I think most doctors including me would tell you to cut down.

Last update: 04:21 PM Monday, April 9, 2007

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Alan Matsumoto, M.D.

many doctors say 1-3 drinks a week is ok with MTX..but that depends on your overall health, what other meds you are on, how high a dose of mtx you are on and how you liver tests are looking.

Certainly talk to your doctor about this.

I have a glass of red wine with my lunch on a sunday, my doc has said thats fine for me, another of his patients he has recommened none at all....each case is individual i think and just guidelines are givenI did discuss this with my doctor and he didn't want to say. He says because we know MTX is hard on the liver in itself and we just don't know what adding alcohol into the picture does- we say no alcohol. (During another visit he said a drink on an occasional Saturday night would be OK...)

WTBRAF,

Does your RD run blood tests frequently to monitor the effects of MTX? If he does, the liver tests should be part of them. You would know if the alcohol was causing problem.

I drank a couple glasses of wine every week that I was on MTX and never had any problems. Of course, that doesn't mean you won't, but I think if your RD is running frequent blood tests, you'd know pretty quickly.

Yes he monitors my liver every 2 months and everything has always been in low normal range. (Even when I had a denial period for 2 months and I was having a 2 -3 drinks every weekend.)

However I asked him point blank if the liver tests all of a sudden rose and I cut out the alcohol wouldn't it be OK? He said no- once the damage is done it's done......

Oh, that's bad. I think if I were you, I'd just be honest and tell him you don't want to give up your evening "wind-down" drink and ask him if there's something else you could take. What about Arava? Can you drink on that?

I usually have 3-4 glasses of red wine/week and my RD is fine with it. I have tests every 2 months and they are always fine. It's odd how different docs have different answers. I too asked my Dr this question. Was told pretty much the same, keep it in moderation. I have been on and off MTX, Enbrel, Arava, Azulfadine for over 5 years and have never had a problem other than falling asleep after having just a few because I am so exhausted. Hangovers are also worse.

kweenb- I think I am going to have to do that. I think Arava has an alcohol restriction too though.

I often wonder if all the hype over MTX and alcohol should really be for when it is used in high doses for cancer treatment and not for someone only taking 15 mgs per week...

nc- was your doctor specific in how many moderation is?

No not really, I told her I like to have a few drinks on Fridays and I usually have 2-3 glasses of wine plus my Family Dr recommended one every night for BP/Heart health and she said that was fine. Well it sounds like you spelled it out for her and it was ok...what medication are you on now?
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